Ultimate Showdown: Kirk vs Sisko

I know what you may be thinking; why isn’t this the usual Kirk vs Picard debate we’re all used to from Trekkies? Well, Picard and Kirk are just incompatible. Yes, they are arguably the two best Starfleet captains in the entire Franchise, but they were too different to properly compare. Kirk and Sisko, however, were shown in a similar light. Kirk is a captain from a time when the Federation was young, facing potential threats from largely unknown species in the Klingons and Romulans, who could attack at any time without warning. Sisko is the Commander of a Space Station bordering a wormhole to a brand new sector of Space, the Gamma Quadrant, facing constant threat from the Cardassians, Dominion and even the Klingons!

History

James T. Kirk

Captain James Tiberius Kirk was born in Iowa in 2233. Kirk enrolled in Starfleet in 2250, crediting his father as inspiration for joining as he served on the USS Kelvin. Kirk’s academy years weren’t always as bright as most, as he was bullied by at least one upperclassman in his years there. Kirk’s first commission was as an Ensign aboard the USS Republic. Kirk was awarded his first command, an unnamed ship, in the 2260s before being assigned as the third captain aboard the USS Enterprise in 2265 for its five year mission. As captain of the Enterprise Kirk led the Federation to explore unknown, and potentially hostile, space in an effort to solidify a still young Federation. He was known to violate the Prime Directive on a number of occasions, including preventing the extinction of at least three Alien races.

Despite reports of his death in 2293 during the maiden voyage of the USS Enterprise B, Kirk died on Veridian III assisting Captain Jean-Luc Picard in preventing the destruction of a Star.

“In every revolution, there’s one man with a vision…”

Benjamin Sisko

Captain Benjamin Sisko was born in 2332 in New Orleans on Earth. Though his Father was human, his mother had been possessed by an energy being, one of a race who called themselves The Prophets. Sisko enrolled in Starfleet in 2350, but made sure to beam back for dinner with his family every night. He was captain of the Academy wrestling team, though was humiliated in a bout after challenging a Vulcan, Solok, one evening while drunk. Sisko met and married his wife Jennifer in 2354. One of Sisko’s early postings, on the USS Livingston, saw him reunited with Curzon Dax, whom he had been taught by at the academy. Sisko was the First Officer of the USS Saratoga during the battle of Wolf 359. Though he managed to save his son before the ship’s destruction, his wife was lost when the ship was destroyed. Sisko’s first command was aboard the Space Station Deep Space 9.

Following the end Dominion War, Captain Ben Sisko was pronounced Missing in Action in 2375.

Achievements

James T. Kirk

Kirk was one of the most decorated officers in Starfleet history. As well as being a commended tactician, he was considered a respected diplomat, although it has been noted that he relied on “Cowboy Diplomacy”. Kirk repelled a Romulan incursion into Federation space following the destruction of several Space Stations along the neutral zone. He has saved at least three races from extinction, though often bent the rules of the Prime Directive in the process. He was well known in the Klingon Empire as a respected Warrior, with his name known throughout the Empire. Though he was not one to back down from a fight, he was not willing to risk starting a war. He prevented the Klingons from acquiring the Genesis device, capable of destroying all surface life on a planet, at the cost of his Son’s life. In 2293 Kirk, along with the crew of the USS Enterprise and USS Excelsior, under the command of Captain Sulu, prevented a war between the Klingon Empire and the Federation by saving the Federation President from Assassination.

“Some people think the future means the end of history. Well, we haven’t run out of history quite yet.”

Benjamin Sisko

Ben Sisko was more than a Federation Officer, he was the Emissary to the Prophets. The Bajoran people worshiped energy beings called The Prophets as Gods, and Sisko was chosen by The Prophets to lead the Bajoran Religion. As their Emissary, Sisko worked to Unite the various Bajoran factions and helped rebuild their society after the Cardassian occupation. A veteran of Wolf 359 and the Tzenkethi War, Sisko was in command of Deep Space Nine when the Klingon-Federation War and the Dominion War began, at ground zero. He fought as Captain of the USS Defiant, the first Starfleet ship to have an authorised cloaking device, in several key engagements in the war, including retaking Deep Space Nine from the Dominion and regaining control of the wormhole, preventing Dominion reinforcements from entering the Alpha Quadrant. He even ployed to have the Romulans enter the war on the side of the Federation and Klingons.

“As an old saying: Fortune favors the bold. Well, I guess we’re about to find out.”

Personal Traits

James T. Kirk

Captain Kirk’s reputation certainly precedes him, but not often for the better. Though he is often portrayed in popular culture as a ladies man and being incredibly flirtatious, he had fewer romantic encounters than people realise. He was never afraid to take action when it was needed, and in a time when the Federation was still a fledgling power in comparison to the Klingon and Romulan Empires, it was often needed. He was loyal to his crew and friends, but he always put duty first as proven when he logged a mistake by his friend Ben Finney, which nearly cost the lives of the crew of the USS Republic, causing him to drop to the bottom of the promotion list. Kirk was never afraid of going against command decisions he viewed as incorrect, or to save the life of a friend. A soldier to the end, he was always willing to risk his life to save thousands, usually relying on his friends to get him out of danger at the last minute.

“I’ve always known I’d die alone”

Benjamin Sisko

Sisko always prided himself on being a man of integrity. He always stood up for those who could not stand up for themselves, and fought the good fight. Sisko proved himself incorruptible, in a way, even when he helped trick the Romulans into the Dominion War, he did it to win the war for the Alpha Quadrant and save it from the Dominion. He was athletic, a huge Baseball fan and always tried to be a dedicated single father. He forgave Captain Picard for his actions as Locutus when he destroyed the Saratoga, killing his wife, showing an incredible amount of compassion. Not invincible, when he was pushed beyond his limit he left the Federation, and Deep Space Nine, to return to his father’s restaurant.

Fun Fact: Ben Sisko once took on 1400 Dominion ships and won!

“So… I lied. I cheated. I bribed men to cover the crimes of other men. I am an accessory to murder. But the most damning thing of all… I think I can live with it. And if I had to do it all over again, I would. Garak was right about one thing, a guilty conscience is a small price to pay for the safety of the Alpha Quadrant. So I will learn to live with it. Because I can live with it. I can live with it… Computer, erase that entire personal log.”